Nigel Goodwin
Honey, due to it hypertonicity and maybe some other factors, is an old-time remedy for bacterial infection and will reduce some edema. I once knew a neurosurgeon(!) who sprinkled granulated sugar from the cafeteria on open surgical wounds based on that fact. A little knowledge can be harmful. He thought it would prevent infection. Spores do perfectly well in hypertonic media until the tonicity decreases, and then they germinate and can cause infection. Just to mention three common spore forming organisms to consider: Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium tetani, and Clostridium botulinum. With diabetics, one of the greatest infections risks faced is from yeasts (e.g., Candida species,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeast). Honey will not treat those infections.
I hope our wife does well, and I also hope the honey therapy is being supplemented with appropriate antibiotics, cultures of the wound, physical therapy, and surgical intervention (if indicated). Honey, of course, has no proven efficacy in improving vascularization. This is not specific medical advice, but is simply a reiteration of some basic principles.
I wish you and your wife the best.
John